Parker Hulet’s Post

Last weekend, I had an in-depth discussion with the sporting director of a top French Ligue 1 club about the challenge of integrating youth players into the first team. While many managers are eager to give young players a chance, they can also be reluctant to do so because of the fear of being sacked and the pressure to deliver results in the short term. I remember listening to Arsène Wenger, whose knowledge of football is on a different level, discussing how a manager should be bold in integrating youth: "Sometimes as a manager you feel lonely to stand up and say: 'No, I want this boy to play because he deserves it'. If I play a 20-year-old young centre-back, I know he will cost me points in the season. If I play a less talented 28-year-old centre-back, he will cost me fewer points. But I would not give those young players a chance." It is about finding the balance and giving them the right environment. If you do not give young players a chance, you will never know what they are capable of. Young players need time to adapt to first-team football. It may be quicker for some of them, but at some point in their careers it will happen. You have to support them. I can think of several examples of clubs like FC Nordsjaelland, where 40% of the minutes are played by U21 players (source: CIES - International Centre for Sports Studies). In your honest opinion, how do you as a club find the sweet spot between creating coherent youth development strategies and maintaining sporting and financial success?

🏈 Flag American Football - From the UK to the Olympics! Flag American Football has been included as an Olympic sport for the Los Angeles 2028 Games! 🎉 This is a ground-breaking moment for our sport, and we can't wait to see the impact it will have on the global stage. Team GB Women are reigning European Champions with Team GB Men finishing 6th. Team GB U17 Girls are also European Champions with the Boys team finishing 5th. 🌍 The Olympics provide a unique platform to showcase the diversity and excitement of Flag Football. As the sport gains international recognition, it opens up incredible opportunities for growth and development, especially right here in the UK! 🚀 Here's how we can capitalize on this incredible opportunity: 1️⃣ Promote Grassroots Programs: Let's encourage and support local flag football programs in schools and communities. Introduce the sport to a wider audience, sparking interest and creating a pipeline of talent. 2️⃣ Engage with Schools and Universities: Collaborate with educational institutions to integrate flag football into their sports curriculum. This will not only enhance the development of the sport but also provide young athletes with a pathway to excel. 3️⃣ Support Local Teams: Whether you want to play, coach, volunteer or sponsor, American Football offers incredible opportunities outside of mainstream UK sport to achieve global recognition. 4️⃣ Leverage Social Media and Digital Platforms: Utilize the power of social media to share highlights, stories, and updates about flag football in the UK. Engage with the audience and create a strong online community to amplify the sport's reach. 5️⃣ Collaborate with National Sports Organizations: Forge partnerships with established sports organizations to garner support and resources. This will help in gaining official recognition and further legitimizing flag football in the UK. Let's make Flag American Football a household name in the UK and show the world the passion and skill our athletes bring to the game. Together, we can build a legacy that extends far beyond the Olympics. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏈 #FlagFootballUK #LA2028 #Olympics #SportsExcellence

𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥. Participation of youth in international football is paramount for various reasons. I would love to expatriate a few points. • Firstly, it fosters global camaraderie, breaking down barriers and promoting cultural exchange. • Secondly, it cultivates talent at a young age, providing players with invaluable experience and exposure to different playing styles and techniques. This exposure ultimately strengthens the overall quality of international football. • Thirdly, youth involvement in international competitions promotes healthy competition, encouraging players to strive for excellence and continuously improve their skills. Moreover, it serves as a platform for social development, teaching important values such as teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship. Lastly, it inspires the next generation of athletes, showcasing the possibilities and opportunities within the sport. Therefore, fostering youth participation in international football not only enriches the sport itself but also contributes to the development of well-rounded individuals on a global scale. #internationalfootball #Predipie #football #Art #creativejourney #bigdata #copywriter #socialmedia

MUST READ: The celebration of Female Football Week in Queensland in May: Football Queensland (FQ) are currently preparing for a fantastic week of football, showcasing and celebrating the continuous contribution made by female football participants, beginning on Friday May 3rd FQ have facilitated activities and events that will transpire across two weeks, culminating on Sunday the 12th. Female Football Week (FFW) is an initiative undertaken by the nation, spotlighting the significance showcased through the brilliance of our female athletes within the football plethora. The recognition of participation, acknowledgement of excellence, appreciation of contribution, all aspects for which this important week will be represented for. Since 2014, FFW has also aided the growth of female football on a nationwide scale, given that the events and activities on offer throughout are created to not only acknowledge current female football contributors, but also inspire a new generation of young females who wish to participate in the sport. Female football within Australia at the moment is a prosperous commodity. PM Anthony Albanese had already pledged a healthy investment into women’s sport, primarily football. This is coming off the back of Australia’s 2023 Women’s World Cup involvement as host nation. FQ have been busy in establishing female football as pivotal points of future strategic planning. In conjunction with FQ’s 2024-2026 referee strategy plan, FQ are looking to double the current amount of female referees. General Manager of Strategic Game Development and Referees, Andy Allan said via press release: “Football Queensland is committed to achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027 across all participants, which underscores our dedication to inclusivity and equity in football," he said. “Female Football Week provides us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the pathways available for women and girls in our sport." FQ intends on having a busy FFW in 2024, 5 events have currently being listed upon their website, involving Interactive School participation sessions, The commencement of youth female football leagues across Metropolitan and bayside regions across Queensland, Q-League Schools Girls round in the southern Metropolitan region, and Football Carnivals taking place in the Wide Bay region. Furthermore, coaching and referee courses are also on offer, including 20 female junior match official coaching courses are set to take place over the 9 days, as well as 8 coaching workshops and courses are also available, covering all aspects of the game and spanning across six regions. Queensland have already declared their provisions, we now await what is going to be on offer from the other states across the country. The post The celebration of Female Football Week in Queensland in May appeared first on Soccerscene. #Football #Soccer #FootballNews

ICYMI: The celebration of Female Football Week in Queensland in May: Football Queensland (FQ) are currently preparing for a fantastic week of football, showcasing and celebrating the continuous contribution made by female football participants, beginning on Friday May 3rd FQ have facilitated activities and events that will transpire across two weeks, culminating on Sunday the 12th. Female Football Week (FFW) is an initiative undertaken by the nation, spotlighting the significance showcased through the brilliance of our female athletes within the football plethora. The recognition of participation, acknowledgement of excellence, appreciation of contribution, all aspects for which this important week will be represented for. Since 2014, FFW has also aided the growth of female football on a nationwide scale, given that the events and activities on offer throughout are created to not only acknowledge current female football contributors, but also inspire a new generation of young females who wish to participate in the sport. Female football within Australia at the moment is a prosperous commodity. PM Anthony Albanese had already pledged a healthy investment into women’s sport, primarily football. This is coming off the back of Australia’s 2023 Women’s World Cup involvement as host nation. FQ have been busy in establishing female football as pivotal points of future strategic planning. In conjunction with FQ’s 2024-2026 referee strategy plan, FQ are looking to double the current amount of female referees. General Manager of Strategic Game Development and Referees, Andy Allan said via press release: “Football Queensland is committed to achieving 50/50 gender parity by 2027 across all participants, which underscores our dedication to inclusivity and equity in football," he said. “Female Football Week provides us with a wonderful opportunity to showcase all the pathways available for women and girls in our sport." FQ intends on having a busy FFW in 2024, 5 events have currently being listed upon their website, involving Interactive School participation sessions, The commencement of youth female football leagues across Metropolitan and bayside regions across Queensland, Q-League Schools Girls round in the southern Metropolitan region, and Football Carnivals taking place in the Wide Bay region. Furthermore, coaching and referee courses are also on offer, including 20 female junior match official coaching courses are set to take place over the 9 days, as well as 8 coaching workshops and courses are also available, covering all aspects of the game and spanning across six regions. Queensland have already declared their provisions, we now await what is going to be on offer from the other states across the country. The post The celebration of Female Football Week in Queensland in May appeared first on Soccerscene. #Football #Soccer #FootballNews

US Soccer Recipe for Success But then came Cruyff and said, “Gentlemen, from now on, the job is to play well!" - Guardiola During the past 20 years, coach education in the US, specifically the US Soccer Federation's Coaching License Pathway, has undergone various changes. At one point, it was influenced by English methods, followed by Dutch, along with a mixture of Belgian and French. MLS has its own education platform, with many MLS coaches having gone through the Elite Formation Coaching License in partnership with the French Football Federation (FFF). United Soccer Coaches organization also offers coach education programs, including National, Regional, and State diplomas, as well as US Youth Soccer (US Youth Soccer University) and US Club Soccer (LaLiga Methodology courses). It is difficult to see a clear vision, direction, and consistency in coach education in the United States. Some may argue that more variety is better, but in reality, more is not always better. It should be about quality and not quantity. There are too many chefs and too many food recipes! When you combine this with various competition platforms, regulations, youth organizations, and a lack of initiative to develop players outside of the MLS clubs (no compensation for clubs outside of the MLS system for the training and development of players according to FIFA Player Training Compensation, Solidarity Payments rule) it becomes clear that youth development involves conflicting priorities, keeping us at a crossroads. Guardiola's comments from many years ago about Cruyff's influence at FC Barcelona are relevant today to our situation. Who in the US Soccer Federation will be our “Cruyff”?

🚀 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆: 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 ⚽ As we kick off the new footballing season this weekend, it’s worth reflecting on what it takes to build a football legacy 🧬 Nations like France, Morocco, England, Germany, and Spain have proven that long-term investment in football academies can lead to global success. From Clairefontaine in France 🇫🇷, which produced legends like Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappé, to Morocco's Mohamed VI Academy 🇲🇦, which helped guide Morocco to their historic 2022 World Cup run, these academies focus on more than just football—they develop mental, physical, and technical excellence. England's St George’s Park 🇬🇧, established in 2012, redefined English football with a focus on coaching and youth development, leading to victories at the U-17 and U-20 World Cups in 2017. Similarly, Germany 🇩🇪 revamped their footballing philosophy post-2000, creating over 50 elite academies that produced World Cup winners like Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer. Meanwhile, Spain 🇪🇸 embraced a unified playing style (hello, tiki-taka!) powered by academies like La Masia, leading to a golden era with the 2010 World Cup win. 🏅 What do they all have in common? 1️⃣ World-class infrastructure and elite facilities 2️⃣ Holistic development—technical skills, mental resilience, and education 3️⃣ Clear pathways from grassroots to professional football 4️⃣ Strategic, long-term planning tied to national football philosophies The key takeaway: Footballing success isn't built overnight—it's about investing in infrastructure, fostering talent, and developing a clear national strategy. These countries’ successes are proof that long-term planning and commitment can lead to sustained periods of dominance on the global stage 🌍. #Football #YouthDevelopment #Success #Sports #Strategy #Planning

I wanted to talk about a topic in sports that many young African males living in Australia are acutely aware of. Growing up with some of the most physically gifted and skilled players in Australia, playing sports such as basketball, football (soccer), and Aussie rules football, I noticed something in some of these sports. You have a talented young African goalscorer playing in attack/mid positions at all junior levels, but as soon as they are offered a professional contract, they are suddenly changed to a defensive position. The ones who persist as attacking players often leave the country as their talents are recognised overseas and underused here. What is going on here? Let’s use Soccer, as an example. Talented offensive players of an African background, if they are not converted to defender positions, are oftentimes given inconsistent minutes or irregular game time. There are of course many reasons that could contribute to this, such as level of conditioning of players, or even potential poor form in training and other reasons we do not see behind-the-scenes. What we young African men in the community see, though, is that if you stand out athletically or physically in the professional level, most times you will be converted to the defensive position. This could be due to your height, you are made to be a centre-back. Or due to your speed, you will be converted to a right-back. This is an issue for two reasons: Firstly, these players are expected to play a position unknown to them at the latter stages of their development and if they do not succeed then they are not afforded another opportunity in their original position. Secondly, we know that goalscorers are appreciated more and oftentimes earn more. Not giving these young people an opportunity can hold back these professionals from their chance to turn their passion and abilities into a living. What strikes me as startling is how many talented young African goalscorers the Australian system has been producing, but the little opportunities they are afforded. We have a chance to create a system where youth, creativity and skill are rewarded. Let’s look at Eritrean-Swedish Premier League superstar, Alexander Isak. The 6’4 striker finished third on the goal tally of the English Premier League this season, using his combination of height, athleticism and speed to help lead Newcastle seventh on the ladder. Last night, he scored at the MCG in front of 78,000 Australian fans at NUFC vs TOTT. Now we know comparing someone who grew up playing in the European systems is vastly different to someone growing up here in Australia, but the point is this: Just because a player is tall and physically gifted, does not mean he is an automatic centre back. We need to utilise the talent pool of our young African Australian players, we cannot keep them under-utilised until European teams come knocking on the door. Image taken from instagram: Alexander Isak #football #newcastleunited #australia #ayi

At Blackbird Global Foundation, we are dedicated to supporting positive human activities. One of the most exciting activities we engage in is supporting youth in athletics. Check out this article on how #sustainabilityinreality is being realized! #projectmanagement #sports #youth #teamwork #leadership #supporting #sustainabilityinreality #projectmanagement Link to article: https://lnkd.in/gUvucNJS

Significant knowledge for aspiring professional basketball players.